As a busy mom, I know spring cleaning can feel like just another overwhelming task on your never-ending to-do list. Between shuttling kids to activities, managing work, and keeping up with daily messes, who has time to deep clean? But here's the truth, with the right supplies, spring cleaning doesn't have to be a dreaded chore.
Spring is the perfect time to refresh your home! But before you dive into the deep cleaning process, it’s important to have the right spring cleaning supplies on hand. The right tools and products can make cleaning easier, more efficient, and even more enjoyable.
My best advice, don’t over-complicate your spring cleaning supplies. Keep on hand items that you can use frequently or can use in multiple different areas. You might even have some of these supplies in your home already! And if you're looking for a step-by-step plan to tackle your spring cleaning, check out my spring cleaning tips guide for a complete room-by-room checklist!
Typically I “spring clean” between the seasons. Here in Texas, I do this twice a year; in the spring and in the fall. This includes deep cleaning everything from the top down (moldings to baseboards), flipping and deodorizing all mattresses, and discarding expired or unused items. Personally, I love to tackle bigger projects like spring cleaning while the kids are in school, so then I can focus on them all summer long.
Side note: If anyone in your family has allergies or asthma, cleaning regularly can be really helpful.
Ready to get started? These spring cleaning supplies will help you clean all of the nooks and crannies in your home that are hard to reach or easy to overlook. Plus you can use most of them for regular cleaning tasks, too so that you're not buying single-use products that waste money and storage space.
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Spring Cleaning Supplies
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Vacuum: I have had my Miele vacuum for 10 years and it is amazing. It has powerful suction so it sucks up pet hair and dirt from wood floors and carpet. Plus it is easy to move around and not super heavy.
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Cordless Lightweight Vacuum: I use this on the ground floor where it is all wood and in the kitchen. It’s light enough that the kids can easily use it, too. This is a must-have for cleaning up the kitchen floor after meals.
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Mop: I like using a rinse clean mop that keeps the dirty water separate from the clean water. The mop head is also washable, so you can re-use it and not waste money on mopping cloths.
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Damp Clean Duster Sponge: Perfect for removing dust, debris, hair, and stains! I use this sponge to clean my baseboards, but it also works well on railings, blinds, the track grooves of windows, and more.
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Ceiling Fan Cleaner: This makes it so much easier to dust way up high or down low. You can use it to dust lighting fixtures, molding, baseboards, and blinds. The duster pad is also washable and reusable.
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All-Purpose Cleaner: The grapefruit scent smells so good! This spray cleaner is perfect for cleaning grease and grime off of a variety of surfaces.
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Natural All Purpose Cleaner and Polish: This natural cleaner is a secret weapon of mine. Gets grime off shower glass and works wonders and cleaning cookware, stainless steel, ceramic, glass, and even removes burnt-on food. A little goes a long way, and I love that it's made with natural ingredients.
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Microfiber Cloths: I have 20+ of these in my kitchen. I use these for cleaning, wiping up spills, dusting, wiping down windows, and more.
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Magic Erasers: I love these for removing fingerprints on light switches. You can also use them to wipe away mildew on tubs and shower liners, clean crayon and marker off tables, and get rid of stubborn marks on walls, cabinets, and other surfaces.
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Glass Cleaner: I rely on Windex for cleaning glass, windows, and mirrors.
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Silicone Squeegee for Glass: This squeegee is a much more efficient way to clean windows, shower doors, and tile.
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Toilet Bowl Cleaning Tablets: I prefer these tablets because they don’t use plastic in the packaging and are biodegradable.
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Dryer Vent Cleaner: Your dryer vent doesn’t catch everything, so I use this brush to clean out any trapped lint and dust. This also helps your dryer work better!
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Drain Clog Tool: This little tool is a lifesaver for clearing hair clogs from bathroom sinks and tub drains. It's so much easier (and less gross) than using your hands, and it works way better than chemical drain cleaners.
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Pumice Stone for Oven: After running the self-clean cycle on your oven, use a pumice stone to easily clean the remaining grime. (They work great for removing rust stains from the toilet too.)
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Bar Keepers Friend: A powerful, non-abrasive cleaner that removes tough stains, rust, and hard water spots
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Cleaning Gloves: Keep your hands protected from hot water, soaps, and cleaners, which can be harsh on your skin.
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Cleaning Caddy: I prefer to tote around my spring cleaning supplies from room to room since I try to have as few products as possible!
Common Household Spring Cleaning Supplies
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Baking Soda
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Borax
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Vinegar
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Lemon Juice
Baking Soda: The Multi-Purpose Miracle Cleaner
Baking soda is one of the most versatile and effective natural cleaners you can use in your home. It's non-toxic, affordable, and works as a gentle abrasive, deodorizer, and stain remover.
Here are some of the best ways to use baking soda to clean:
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Unclog drains: Pour baking soda followed by vinegar down the drain to help break up clogs and freshen the pipes.
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Clean shower: Mix baking soda with water or vinegar to remove soap scum and mildew from the shower.
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Boost laundry: Add ½ cup of baking soda to the wash to boost detergent effectiveness. This is great for deep cleaning bed linens.
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Freshen mattresses: Lightly sprinkle baking soda on the mattress, let it sit for at least 30 minutes, then vacuum to freshen it.
Fun fact: Did you know the Statue of Liberty was cleaned with baking soda during its centennial restoration in 1986?
Where NOT to use baking soda:
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Aluminum, antique silver, and copper
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Glass, including fiberglass
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Natural surfaces, like marble, wood, and stone
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Painted surfaces, such as walls
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Leather furniture
Borax: The Heavy-Duty Natural Cleaner
Borax is similar to baking soda as it is a natural mineral cleaner, but it is stronger. It can tackle tough stains, eliminate odors, and disinfect surfaces, and is known to prevent fungi, mold, and bacteria.
Here are a few ideas for using borax as part of your spring cleaning supplies:
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Freshen drains: Pour 3 tablespoons of borax down the drain, let it sit for 15 minutes, then flush with hot water.
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Deep clean toilet: Sprinkle borax in the toilet, let sit overnight, and scrub in the morning for a deep clean.
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Fight mildew: Make a cleaning spray by mixing ¼ cup of borax and one quart of warm water. Spray onto mildew and let it sit for 15 minutes, then scrub, rinse, and dry the area. Once everything is clean, lightly spray the cleaner on mildew-prone areas and let it air dry to help prevent mildew growth. This works in showers, on patios, decks, and outdoor furniture.
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Deter pests: Sprinkle borax along entry points to help deter ants, cockroaches, and other pests.
Where NOT to Use Borax:
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On skin or in personal care – Borax is too harsh for direct skin contact.
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On food surfaces – Rinse thoroughly if using borax in the kitchen.
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Near pets & small children – While borax is natural, it can be harmful if ingested.
Vinegar: The Grease-Fighting Deodorizer
Vinegar cleans grease and grime, neutralizes odors, and removes water stains. Here’s how you can use distilled white vinegar as part of your spring cleaning supplies:
Vinegar cleans grease and grime, neutralizes odors, and removes water stains. Here's how you can use distilled white vinegar:
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Steam clean microwave: Add two inches of vinegar to a microwave-safe bowl and heat for two minutes to steam clean your microwave. Make sure to wipe down the insides!
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Descale kettle: Fill your kettle with half water and half vinegar and bring to a boil. Turn off your stove or kettle and let it sit for at least 20 minutes. Pour out the water and vinegar and scrub the inside of the kettle. Re-fill with water, boil it, then pour it out.
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Clean shower head: Fill a plastic bag with vinegar and wrap it around your shower head with a rubber band. Leave the bag on for a few hours, then take it off and run the shower for a few minutes to clear the vinegar out.
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Clean window tracks: Mix equal parts vinegar and water to use as a cleaning spray for vinyl and wood window sills and window tracks.
Lemon Juice: Nature's Antibacterial Brightener
Lemon juice is a natural, powerful cleaner that can cut through grease, remove stains, kill bacteria, and leave behind a fresh scent. Its acidity makes it great for breaking down grime, disinfecting surfaces, and brightening fabrics.
Here are some of the best ways to use lemon juice for cleaning:
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Disinfect cutting boards: Rub half a lemon over wooden or plastic cutting boards to remove stains and kill bacteria. Let sit for a few minutes, then rinse.
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Microwave cleaner: Heat a bowl of water with lemon slices or lemon juice inside the microwave for 3-5 minutes, then wipe down the inside to remove stains and odors.
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Freshen garbage disposal: Drop lemon peels into the garbage disposal and run it with cold water to eliminate odors.
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Streak-free glass: Mix equal parts lemon juice and water and use it as a streak-free glass cleaner.
Where to NOT use lemon juice or vinegar:
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Natural surfaces, like stone, marble, hardwood, and granite
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Electronics or anything with a screen
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While lemon juice and vinegar can clean uncoated brass and copper, it can strip protective coatings, leading to tarnishing.
Bonus Cleaning Reward
Once you have finished deep cleaning, stock your clean kitchen with pretty, yet functional dish towels to keep you motivated to maintain the clean kitchen! Geometry tea towels are hands down my favorite. They are absorbent, durable, and come in so many beautiful patterns. Use my code MKMMBI15 for 15% off your entire order!
Spring Cleaning Q&A
What are the most essential spring cleaning supplies I need as a busy mom?
Focus on versatile, multi-purpose supplies that save you time. My top must-haves are a quality vacuum (I've used my Miele for 10 years!), microfiber cloths, an all-purpose cleaner, Magic Erasers, and baking soda. These items work across multiple rooms and surfaces, so you're not wasting money or storage space on single-use products.
Can I use natural ingredients instead of commercial cleaners?
Yes! Baking soda, distilled white vinegar, lemon juice, and borax are versatile natural options that can clean and deodorize many surfaces. Just avoid using them on natural stone, marble, wood, or glass surfaces as they can cause damage. I recommend combining these natural cleaners with a good all-purpose spray, glass cleaner, and specialized products for tough jobs like the oven or toilet.
Are there spring cleaning products I should avoid?
Skip products that only do one job when you can use a multi-purpose cleaner instead. Also, be cautious with harsh chemical cleaners if you have kids or pets. I've found that natural alternatives like baking soda, vinegar, and gentle commercial cleaners work just as well without the harsh fumes or safety concerns.
When's the best time to spring clean?
I actually do my deep cleaning twice a year - spring and fall. Spring and fall are perfect when you can open windows and get fresh air flowing. I like to tackle bigger cleaning projects while my kids are in school, so I can focus without interruptions and then enjoy spending time with them during summer break.
How do I make spring cleaning less overwhelming with kids at home?
Turn it into a game by assigning age-appropriate tasks (like having kids sprinkle baking soda on mattresses before vacuuming), play upbeat music, and celebrate small wins. Small helpers can take ownership of simple jobs like wiping down low surfaces or dusting baseboards.
What’s the difference between everyday cleaning supplies and spring cleaning supplies?
Everyday cleaning is about quick maintenance; wiping counters, spot cleaning floors, laundry while spring cleaning involves deeper tasks like deodorizing mattresses, cleaning vents, washing blinds, and tackling baseboards. The supplies often overlap, but the spring list includes tools that reach higher, lower, and deeper into your home.
More Cleaning Tips
Want to make spring cleaning even easier? Check out these helpful posts:
- Spring Cleaning Tips: Get my room-by-room cleaning checklist and time-saving strategies
- 25 Ways to Get Organized in 2026: Decluttering tips to make cleaning easier
- Organization Ideas for the Garage: Tackle that often-overlooked space
Do you use any of these spring cleaning supplies in your home? Or is there something you think I should add to my list? Share with me in the comments below!
